Royal Society's 10 Questions Science Must Answer

The Royal Society, a prestigious British science organization, is celebrating its 350th anniversary. Its goal over the past three and a half centuries has been to unravel the mysteries of the world. To mark its anniversary, the group has put together a list of 10 questions that science must answer, asked by some of the world's leading thinkers.

1) What is consciousness?-- Kathy Sykes, professor of sciences and society, University of Bristol

2) What happened before the big bang?-- Joan Bakewell, broadcaster and writer

3) Will science and engineering give us back our individuality?-- Mark Miodownik, physicist, King's College London

4) How are we going to cope with the world's burgeoning population?-- Tracy Chevalier, novelist

5) Is there a pattern to the prime numbers?-- Marcus du Sautoy, professor for public understanding of science, University of Oxford

6) Can we make a scientific way of thinking all pervasive?-- Brian Cox, physicist, University of Manchester

7) How do we ensure humanity survives and flourishes?-- John Sulston, chair, Royal Society study on people and the planet